Rotary valve with indexing and locking devices



W. ROBINSON April 14, 1953 ROTARY VALVE WITH INDEXING AND LOCKING DEVICES Filed NOV. 25, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l Wllz'am Robinson @w Cwwf' M W. ROBINSON April 14, 1953 2,634,949

ROTARY VALVE WITH INDEXING AND LOCKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 25, 194'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 William Robinson April 14, 1953 u I wQRoBlNsoN 2,634,949

ROTARY VALVE WITH INDEXING AND LOCKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 25, 1947 5 sheets-sheet s April 14, 1953 w. ROBINSON 2,634,949

ROTARY VALVE WITH INDEXING AND LOCKING DEVICES Filed Nov. 25, 1947 `5 sheets-sheet 4 W'llam Robinson April 14, 1953 w. ROBINSON 2,634,949

ROTARY VALVE WITH INDEXING AND LOCKING DEVICES v Filed NOV. 25, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PART/HL FLOW/ 50 L/M/T EDl/Cf FLOW VLllia/rr'z Robinson an operating shaft.

Patented Apr. 14,1953 f ROTARY VALVE WITH INDEXING AND LOCKING DEVICES William Robinson, Chicago, Ill., assgnor, by mesnejassignments to Certified Gas Equipment- Corporation, Manseld, Ohio, a. corporation of Applica-tion November 25, 1947,'Serial N o. 787,911.

`8 Claims.

The present v'nvention relates 'to valves. and,

:more -'p'artici-ilarly,V toA valves for gas appliances.

'.Aniobject oftheinventionzis-to provide valve voperatingimeansvvhich are economical in manuficturesandconvenient to operate.

Aiurtlfier object of the invention is to provide avalve iass'emblyfwl'iich y includes eilicient locking Anotherfobjectis' to `provide avalve assembly 'vshereln*the*limits` of valve movement can be 'freadily-l-ad'justed.

AA?If-iirth-er object'of the invention is yto `provide 'means-to vindicate when ava-Ive is in `a predeter- -mined position. Another object is to provide novel means Ywhereby a valve'element can be connectedfto A1 furtherfob-ject is toA provide means to secure an Aoperating handle Yto 'a vialve shaft.

'fSti-llanother obj ect-of the invention is tov provide-a valv'eeassembly and valve operating lmeans which can be-readilyinterchanged to meet various operating requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide "ardisc valvewhichwill efciently'and safely control the `ilovv of `gas or other uid.

A further object is to p-rovide a valve of such Idesign'that close tolerances required in use, including use With high B. t. u. gas, can be met Without undue increase in the cost Vof the valve A still further object is rto provide |a novel method v"and mechanism for producing valve `pas- Y Sages.'

' Figure 4 shows a second form of loperating means, 'the view ybeing-on the line ll--4 of Figure 5. 'Figureisrraview vvon'tiie :line-5-5=of Figure 4. Figure lfi showsrapthird form of operating means, the-view being taken'on'the line 6-5 ofFigure 7, but. omittingY the handle'fsecuring means of Fig- 'ure '7;

Figura? is a front `'elevation .of the avalve body Valve bodies.

Figures is-asection on the line-8 8 .ofliigure lFig-uresS, 10 and V1.1 are-transverse. sections of a fourth form-.of valve .operating means, thesuccessive. Vievvs showing diierent .positions of the operating means.

Figure. 12 is anV elevation or the operating mechanism illustrated inFiguresQ to 11, With the mechanism removed .from the .remainder of the valve structure.

Figure 13 is ya detailed view of the valveL body .of Figure 1, the View looking toWardFigurel from the bottom.

Figure 14 is a View diagrammatically illustrating a method of forming valve passages. l A

Figures 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammaticand show oW positions of the rotary valve member of thel invention.

Figure 18 is-an elevation of the'seatffacerof the valvemernber of theinvention.

Figure 19 is a central section onA the line--l-a--I 9 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is an elevation of the rear theV valve I member.

Figure 2l is an edge View of the valvemember,

face Y of the View being-taken looking toward the -bottom edge of Figure 20..

Figure 22 is a fragmentary detail viewof the valve member* and the valve drivingA element.-

The illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include four operating arrangements or means for rotary valve members and also includes novel rotary valve members and Byl one operating arrangement, "a valve lmember simply will 'be limited in movement `between non-'now and full-now positions. This typeis hereinafter referred to as a single purpose non-locked valve. A second type is vsimilar to the rst type, but includes means whereby it can be locked in ofi position. This second type is hereinafter referred to as a singlepurpose ,locked valve. A thirdftype, hereinaftertermed a high-low, non-locked valve,l is not locked in any position but gives an indication when the valve hasbeen moved to a. predeterminediposition, for example, full-flow position.

locked valve, includes means to lock itfin one position, aswell asA means to indicate another position. These four: forms :are hereinafter sepa-- `rately discussed but, for better understanding,

A fourth ritype, hereinafter referred to as a highi-lotv,

` port 48.

tionary valve body 25 which includes a seat face 2| to which a gas supply passage 22 and a gas outlet or delivery passage '23 open. A rotary disc valve member 24 including a seat face 25 is positioned on the seat face 2| of the body 20. Valve member 24 is adapted to be rotated with respect to the valve body by means of a stem 26 operatively connected to the rear face of the valve by the various forms of operating mechanism dis-V A closed herein, that disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 being generally designated 21. Stem 26 forms part of the operating mechanism 21 and is journalled in a central flange of'cover 28 for rotation by a handle 29 shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Valve body of Figures 1, 3 and 13 The valve body 20 includes a disc-like portion 40 shown in edge elevation in Figure 13 and the peripheral outline of which is shown in Figure '3. The seat face 2| is formed on the front of this disc portion. As shown in Figure 13, which is a vview looking toward the bottom of Figure 1 or 3, 'an extension 42 projects rearwardly from the `disc portion 48, this rearward extension including a 4radially projecting portion 43 (Figure 3) and a central portion 44. The radial extension 43 is threaded as indicated at 45 in Figure l so that it may be fitted to the manifold of a gas range.

The gas supply passage 22 extends through this portion and to the seat face 2|. In more detail, as shown in Figure 1, the supply passage 22 cornprises an outer and radially extending portion 46 Vwhich opens to an inner portion 41 which extends at an angle of about 12 to the axis of the disc and opens to the seat face 2| through a supply It Will be observed that the angle between the radial passage portion 46 and the inner -passage portion 41 is about 108, this angle enabling the gas ow to change direction without undue restriction.

As is also shown in Figure 1, the delivery supply -passage 23 is in the rearward and centra1 extension 42 and includes a port 50 which opens to an inner passage portion 5| which extends through the central rearward projection 44 along a line parallel to the inner portion 41 of the supply passage 22, viz., at an angle of about '12 with respect to the seat face 2|. Passage portion 5| then opens to an outer passage portion 52 which is substantially concentric with the axis of the disc portion 40. The angle between the portions 5| and 52 is about 162, preventing undue restriction to the gas flow.

The outer end of the rearward and centra1 extension 44 may be threaded as indicated at 53 to receive the usual nipple 54 adapted to project into the gas inlet of a gas and air mixing tube. Any well known type of Vaned element 55 may be tted in the outlet of the delivery passage 23 to cooperate With the nipple and thereby permit adjustment of the outlet flow. Alternatively, the

vouter end of extension 44 may be tted with a packing gland and clamping nut.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the valve body 20 has ears 56 and 51 projecting radially therefrom and adapted to receive correspondingly apertured ears on the casing 28. The ears 56 and 51 are provided with apertures, each of a -different size, so that the casing, valve member,

and valve operating device can be properly voriented thereon. As best shown in Figure 3, the ears 56 and 51 are arranged along a diametrical line which extends at an acute angle with respect to the radial projection 43. Because of this, two

'valve bodies 20 may be positioned closer together on a manifold than would be the case if the ears were arranged on a line extending at right angles to the radial projection 43.

Seat face 2| has a recessed periphery as indicated at 21a in Figure 1. If a burr is formed during grinding of face 2| it will lie inthis recess and cannot be forced over on to the seat face during tting of casing 28 upon the body 20.

As is best shown in Figure 3, the delivery port 5|) of valve body 2l) is provided with tail ports 50a and 58h respectively extended from opposite sides thereof. The tail ports extend along arcuate lines from port 50 and are of gradually decreasing V-shaped section. As is hereinafter explained, the purpose in providing two oppositely extending tail ports is to enable the valve body to be used with valve elements designed to rotate clockwise, as well as valve elements adapted to rotate counterclockwise.

Figure 14 discloses a method of forming the tail ports 58a and 56h involving the use of a milling cutter 50c including cutting teeth 58e, the cutter being rotatable upon a shaft 50d. As will be clear from Figure 14, the axis of shaft 50d is at an acute angle, for example, 65, to the plane in which the port 58 lies, viz., the plane of the seat face 2|. Hence, rotation of the tool 50c will cause the two tail ports to be simultaneously formed as either the cutting tool of the Valve body is advanced. The cutting edge or the tool 50c is of such section as indicated in Figure 14 that it will produce tail ports V-shaped at about 50 .in section and of substantial depth adjacent the port 58, which depth decreases to zero at a point spaced from the port 50. The tool 55o is preferably a milling cutter but may be some other type of cutting or grinding tool.

Formation of tail ports by this method, rather than in the casting of the valve body, insures that the tail ports will be perfectly smooth and free of burrs, a matter of extreme importance in connection with the use of bottled or other high B. t. u. gas.

As is best shown in Figures 3 and 13, the seat face 2l of valve body element 28 is provided with two lubricant pockets 58 positioned on a diametrical line extending at right angles to the line on which the supply and delivery ports 48 and 58 are arranged. It will be observed from Figure 3 that the pockets 58 have their centers on the same circular line on which the ports 48 and 5U lie so that the pockets will thereby be engaged by any passage in a rotatable valve element which is in circular alignment with the mouths of the ports.

As is best indicated in Figure 13, the pockets 58 are of substantial depth and hence will receive sulicient lubricant to keep the seat face lubricated for a long period of time.

In use, one pocket 58 will be filled with grease, viz., the pocket which is distant from the tail port which will actually be used. For example, when the valve body is to be used with a rotatable element turning clockwise with respect to Figure 3 and which valve element will thereby cooperate with the tail port 50a, lubricant wil1 only be placed in the pocket 58 shown at the left of Figure 3. The reason for this is as follows: In the final testing of an assembled valve of the present invention, compressed air is blown through the valve passages and it is found that if the pocket immediately adjacent the used tail port is filled with grease, some of the grease will be forced between the contacting seating surfaces and -into the tail port. The result is that that tail port is thereby restricted as to gas iiow. By making the incassare f-.pockets vof `=ac`lequate size eandffdep'th, esflicient 'illubriea'ntfcan be-stored in 'af single'l pocket. "Howaever, fithefprovisionfo'ftwo' pockets enables fthe ivalveb'dy to beused with valve elementsadaptedtto turn in either one direc'tion or another.

The disc .valve Thefrotary'valve 424 'is vbest illustratedfi-nlFgures --118=to?22 andfis-offfcircu1ar 'disc-likev form. "Figure "valve v'membe1"^-24. This gurefalso includes 'l a dotted lineshovvingfofthe supply port-481fand "-fdeliveryiport- 50 of' the valve body 20," the Efvalve -xmemben 24 v'being l'shovvn' inV the position vvith r-e-v Aspe'ctto 'those' ports'vvhich it Would-occupy inthe iclosedjposition 'of "thefvalve The planar seati'face` 2 50i valve `"member 24 iin'ludes: agener'allyarcuate` grooveor 'owpas- .esagef including an outer Yperipheral* wallr I an inner peripheralv Wall i62,2and-fend Walls 63 and 64.v "The bottom Wall 65k ofthe groove 6!! lies in favplane generally parallelv With the seat1face'25. Thefcenter point-or'axis of the disc-valve 24 'is indicated :at 66 in'Figure 18.

rv'The outer peripheral Wall 6I ofl groove2-60is `rarcuate'an'd is=centeredatfthe axis 66 of the valve memben V:Thisvvvall extends through substantially 'i235D and is preferablyl inclined at an'angle of .',about`f5:t0the axis'ofthe valve member 'as best .:'shown'in"1igure@19. As a result, --the groove is Ywidest'fat-'its'seat face edge.

` 'One end 'of the outer'peripheralwall joins 'an H'end '.Wal163 andits'other'end joinsend Wall'64.

divall arearbetween-.them isV inclined to thea axisvof` thefvalve member 'as' best;shown" in- Figure 19. In morexdetaiL `the lower edge l@ is "formed on a radiuslbasedaon the valve axis '65, whereas rthe kseatlface edge "H .is formed on=a radiusV based ion an'axis12.intermediate the valve axis 66 and A.the axis of thesupplyrport .M :Stated .another V.way,'.,theseatzace edge fil isrbased onfaradius "positioned 4on fa. line .bisecting Vthe vouter:periph- .-ceralivvall. 6 I .o'frgroove 6G but -on "the opposite side .'ofthe'valveaxis:E6 from-lvvall 6l. vAs alresult "of the v:relative :.curvatures of the bottom edge 11! vaandtl'ierseat face edge 1|,iatvitsmedianpoint shownjnsectionin Figure .19,'ithe1inner .periph- :eralrwa'll 62 is. inclined .at aan angle of about'y 40 tok .thesaxsoii the valvezmember and, as shown in 1' Figurezl', on each side of this; median *.point it :graduallybecomes more` sharply inclined. until at izzthezpointslit becomes: parallelrwithY the .axis of zvalve'member 24. 4Frornthese pointsionvvard it is lparallel,w'iththe valveiaxis until it joins theend Vvla1lsli3 yand 64.

As .a :result .of the :above-.described design Aof the generally arcuate groove 60, it Will be. noted that -When the valvemember 24 is in the closed .position illustratedin Figure 18,'i. e., when its :blankor ungrooved portion 'i5 overliesthe supply port 48, the seat face edge 'H vvv'illbeconcentric :with theaxis ofthesupply port and an adequate blankiarea having a minimum ywidth A nA will abe L present betweenthe .seat faceiedge .1l

The inner endsA andv theadjacent .1 edgenffthe: supplyipnrtd. It vavvill be tnoted 4that theztpoint :on supplyfport :548 :closest toithe periphery :off the valve unemb'ercis spaced from Athat: periphery; .a 'distanceiifcorresponding'to the v.distance 1A. -Also,fzthe:blank area" T6 .of thegseatfaceLpositionedbetweenffthe `'periphery of `valve member24iandlthe'outerrperip-neral Wall, 6 l hase a corresponding Width.

In :a s. typicalLLinstallation, ithe' 'valve gmemberZ 4 :.a corresponding: diameter. `,'lEheidelivery:an'dsup- "plyportsz'lland llmay have-a diameter 012.221", -theouter .peripheral'wallfi I:may:betforrned:on:` a radius ...of .352,the bottom Vedge ilof ner s .peripheral'fwall y '.62 maybetformed on 'gat'.radius lof .119 f .whilef.theseatfaeeeedge .1. lifof'zthis-wall .may be' vformedzon aira'dius :of '.175' centered'sat 'a v'point .175 :from-the. axis .'.ofztheivalvememben 11n such .case,ithe. distance Azw'ill be;of;the orlder of .115", lwhich is :adequate ;towprevent:escape of gas/past the-peripheral edgeszof. the'. valve wmemb er lor /va'lvepbodyfand '.alsoito:preventa'escape from the 1 supply rport rf48'1to :thegroove .lill4 with the valve '.:member vin closedfposition.

With the dimensions gstatedeabovehthe .va'lve memberl 24 may have a :thicknessiof .310f and this' depth and the radialiwi'dthsindicated above,

the groove will v`have* azradialsection-'to accommodate iicvv between delivery fandisupplydports :of 'I the sizeindicated.

`v.brass forging, as is the case with;the bodymember 20. In either event, the shape of the groove .60 :enables the valve memberito-.-be'produced at :a 110W cost.

Other advantages resultingrirom :the .aboveidescribed form V:of :the groove i60 are'` hereinafter described :in yconnectionmvith the .operation of .the entire v alve assembly. Thexrearlfacegstru ture of the. disciszalso subsequentlydescribed.

...Operating mechanism-Single.pvrposenonlocking valve of..'Eiyu1:es 1 to. .3

.Asfhas been previously. statecLithe'l casing28 lis provided yWith radially projectingfears 'by means of which' it.may be Asecured to the'valve body .20. Thecasing preferably is. of ysheet metal. andcupshapedin formA to: include azcirculary side fwallf and-an end 'Wall 3l. Theendflange' 8|. includes a central apertureidened bysacircular..ilange 82 andthe stem. ZLis journalled inthisange. '.The .central i portion 8 3 'otLthei stemi 2 6 'hasv a 'diameter ito 'closely'.rltbut be rotatable 'Withinthelangel inward-ly oftheezpoition 83 :(tosthe:right,1in the '.drav/ings) fthe stem. is Vof'reduced diameter "las in'dicatedat'M.

Inwardlyfof portion 84 the-stem :..is :stillgfurther :reduced inf diameter as shown rat theiplate 189 and spider .92.in position. The outiline. of spielen-Q2 is shown in 'dotted linesin Figure SG to provide a shoulder 81. Asfshownin :dotted lines' in; Figure 2, .the 'portion :58B: is flat :on r tWo '.diarnetricallyoppositeisicles` as indicatedfat 188.

A stopxplateg including "a central aperture of thefsameiflatted formation as'the inner stem por- 'ticns .istherebykeyed on por-tion fvandbears :against the shoulder 8l 'provided Aat 'the left- 'hand .en'd ofrportion 1"-86. 'A spring-spider 92 or drivingzelement is keyed tothefstem portion v86 in the: saine manner as the stop platef and the innerend ofstem2$ isf peened. or headed to lock 20 Mand its :purpose .and detailfconstructionfis hereinafter described.

"7 and smaller end bearing on the central portion of spi-der 92, the inner and larger end of the spring bearing on the inner wall oi' a circular recess 94 on the rear face of the disc valve 24.

The stop plate 89, throughout the major portion of its periphery, is provided with an axially and outwardly projecting ange |02. The outer circumferential surface of the 'ilange is of a radius closely corresponding to that of the inner side surface of casing 28 so that the flange serves to center the inner end of the valve stem with respect to the casing and minimize Wobbling of the valve stem. While iiange |02 is interrupted at several points, as indicated in Figure 2, and as hereinafter described, it essentially extends for about 250 and-terminates in shoulders |03 and |04 adapted to cooperate with opposite sides of a band |020. struck in from the side wall of the casing 28. The contact of the shoulders I 03 and |04 with band I02a. thereby limits the rotation of the valve stem 26 and the valve disc 24.

Plate 89 is also provided with tongues I 05a, |051) and I 05e struck out of the plate as indicated in Figure 2 so that they extend parallel to the plate axis. The striking out of the tongues I05a and |0513 serves to interrupt the flange |02 as referred to above. As is indicated by the dotted line showing of the tongue |050 in Figure 1, the outer ends of the tongues are of reduced width and the tongues are rounded at their extreme outer ends. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the tongues are spaced increased distances from the axis of the plate 89 successively in a counterclockwise direction, beginning with the tongue I5c.

The stop plate 89 also includes an inwardly projecting tongue IIO extending `at an obtuse angle with respect to the body of the plate and into a pocket III on the rear face of the valve member 24. The purpose of this arrangement is to generally orient the valve member 24 with the operating structure 2'I during assembly.

As is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 20, the spider or driving element 92 includes a central body portion and three radial arms II4. Element 92 is formed of spring metal and is so designed that when the arms II4 are free, as shown in Figure 12, for example, they will project from the body portion of the spider at a relatively sharp angle. Therefore, when assembled With the valve element 24, they will be under tension as indicated in Figure 1.

As has been stated above, and as is indicated in Figures 20 and 21, the rear face of valve member 24 is centrally recessed as indicated at 94. Three equidistantly spaced grooves II extend from the outer periphery of the rear face of the disc valve to the recess 94. As is indicated in Figure 1, the outer ends of the arms I I4 of spider 92 engage the grooves I|5.

As best shown in Figure 12, the outer or free end of each arm II4 is curved slightly outwardly and upwardly to provide a roll as indicated at I I6. As shown in Figures 20' and 22, each groove II5 of valve member 24 is of a width to closely correspond with the Width of an arm II4. However, the outer corners of the grooves I I5 may be beveled as indicated at II1. The bottom wall of each groove includes a centrally and longitudinally extending rib IIS on which the rolled ends IIB of the arms II4 engage. It will be noted from Figure 22 that the bottom walls of the grooves I|5 and the ends I I6 of the arms II4 only engage over the area of the rib I I8, thereby reducing friction between the arms when the spider is pressed close to the valve 24 as shown in Figure 1 and so that the arms slide along the length of the grooves. In order to further assist this sliding movement, the bottom walls and ribs II8 may be very slightly inclined so that the grooves are of greater depth at their outer ends than at their inner ends.

As has Ibeen stated above, and as is shown in Figure 22, the width of the grooves |I5 is such that the arms II4 fit closely against the side or lateral walls of the grooves. This iit comprises the primary driving connection between the stem 26 and the valve member 24. However, should spider 92 break, the disc valve 24 can be rotated by the tongue IIO until `a new spider is supplied. It will be noted that spider 92 also serves to hold disc valve 24 iirmly seated and presses the stop member 89 toward the end wall of casing 28. Spring 93 serves the same purpose and will be effective should the spider break.

As is shown in Figure 1, the spider arms I I4 engage the grooves I I5 at points closely adjacent the periphery of the valve member 24. In prior constructions, valve members of this type have been connected to the operating stem by having a central socket in the valve keyed to an operating stem of small diameter. Manufacturing tolerances at that point could result in a substantial arcuate movement of the valve periphery with respect to the stem. By the arrangement of my invention, the same tolerances will permit little, if any, arcuate movement of the valve and more accurate control of the gas flow is thereby afforded.

When the valve operating elements and valve are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the passage 60 of the valve member 24 will occupy the position indicated in Figure 18 with respect to the supply port 48 of the valve body 20. Hence, no iiow of gas will occur. It will be observed from Figure 2 that at this time the shoulder I 03 of disc flange |02 will be in engagement with one side of the struck-in band I02a. To produce gas flow, stem 26 will be rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 2, viz., in the direction of the arrow A. Bearing in mind that Figures 15 16, 17 and 18 are views looking at the seat face 25 of valve member 24 from the right in Figure 1, rotation in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2 will result in rotation of the valve member in the direction of the arrow B in each of Figures 15 to 18. Rotation of about 40 from the Figure 18 position will cause the leading end 64 of passage 69 to overlap the supply port 48 with the result that there will be a partial flow of gas to the burner. The gas flow can be increased as desired until the full on position illustrated in Figure 16 is reached. At that time, the stop shoulder |04 will contact with band I 02a to limit further rotation of the stem and valve member.

It will be observed that in all positions of the valve member 24 of Figures 1 and 2, the ends of the tongues I05a, I05b and |050 will bear against the inner surface of the end wall 8| of valve casing 28 to thereby hold the stem against movement upwardly of the casing and thus form an abutment for the spring driving element I I4 and the coil spring 93.

It will be clear from the above that the valve of Figures 1 and 2 is a non-locking valve primarily useful for obtaining a partial flow and then a full flow of gas.

By providing the single purpose non-locking valve of Figures 1 and 2 with the tongues |0511, I 05h and |050, the casing 28 used with that valve sees-wn can ybe-=6ftthefsanrreaxiall 'length-as fthe;V casings used -With 'the forms" hereinafteudescribed and with springs vv92 and 93-maintained under: thesame compressionlas in the-later described valvesa 'In' order `tomedify the valve ofFigures 1 and 2 for counterclecliwise operation; "thefonly change necessary is to so locate the.v stopvand guiding flange- Ill with respect A'to the remainder-'ofthe gage the oppdsite-f si'defoff-tlie stopvstrap# I 02a closed position and the-'cap between'they'slioulder' I 03 andl shoulder IMA willv extenda clockwise there`` from' as v-iewedin Figure 2.- Thereforeya discvlir for'use in afcounterclockwise-valve'canibe pre ducedl by very simplev changes`1 in manufacturing procedure and Withoutl'the-neeessity' off any: special "dies,

`The.simile-:pusposeI locking ualverof Figures. 4T andf locked inK ff positien-- '-Uiiloc'kingiis-:accome -pli'sliedl'lfnfforcing'y the st`eml26fa inwardly', thereby; releasingthe tongueslfrom the casing-'apertures'. Them the :stern and" valve-membercan b'e rotated through 909', VVj ust'sasilffias been descrbed aboveirr connectionlwiththef valve* off-Figuresvland 2f-'andi as-'islillustrat'ed irrFi-gures-I 1f5and"A 16 When'lthe ends of the tongues Vlilith, 4055' and I 05'0- are= pos'itionedlini' the Lapertures ofr4 the casing and" Walli' Ia-, as f shown in-Figure l the-disc fobvi'ously fwilllbeeat a greater 'distancerfrom the-rear surface" of-fvalve' disc 2li-than When` *they ends of the tongue are in non-lockingposition; i. et., bearing: on VVthe inner surf ace vof thcrendwall 8m; Hence, theespringsw and 93 theoretically Willi` be exerting; 'less'A pressure*l against' `the Valve' resultforthelabove, thesvalve=mfember 211*A use'di m1 1 theAv structure'- under discussion can- -be discft'o l'i'oldfit1seated; However, theentirevalvemf) 'quiredfforf lockingfise to als "L Therefore, the

spr-ingstZ and 931obviously'will;provide'substan; tial-ly the-same--Valve seating pressure-in. both loc-kingand'nomlockingpositionsof the" stem.

During'axialinovernentio'f the stem; the tong-ues I I'Ilcf springelement:92obviously Will slide very slightly radially of the valve disc 524'; this, Inoue-A mentbeing' accomplished Without any drag be cause of thesmallbearing "area between .the spingarms IIland the Valve disc resultingrom theprovision of the radial' shoulders IIS. 'This movement'is further assistedby the rounded Aformation II'B of arms 'II4and` the slightislope othe'shoulders I4 I' 8 ref erred toabove.

H ighJowmwfloclcing ua'luefofiFiyunes 5'6; to i8 ,'lhe valvefdisclosed-in'ligures` 6, Yan'dfsdiiers fromtheitwodormslfof valvesdiscussed above' primarilyzinfthatiaclickfplate I 3=0iislprovided inth'e valvenew,1A toz-beifdiscussed.' #Click plateglllly is mounted?onf-the:reducedmortiomb of-:thefstem that th'elclickcplateiis provided Witlnaplurality;y of .peripherallrotches JIBI?, awitlrtthree off these notches aligned with the tongues |0500, t0,5,b;.and l Widthtcircumerentiallyofzthe structurethanthe.` tongues-and, .therefore theiclickqplatecan rotate" with respect to the stem 26 and the stop plate 8'9 to that extent. Y f

The purpose of" providiiif;sixl notches in the .click plate I3il is to enable itto be used with a valveelto rrotatecounterclockwiser asy :Well .as with the clockwisezrotating; valve under discussioni;

Asbestfshown'in Eigureszand the clickgplate: or: :disc |230 'hasfgoutwardq projections IS200, I3-2b; r .and I32c circumferentally spacedabout it, ,these 1 projections;ifacirlglaoutwardly'for towardr casing end wall-51H b and fpreferablyxbeingi of \l-,-shape.dv fornfras1 .viewediradially of the disc andzasishown' in dottedclines :inafligurefr 6. These; projections mamb'effformed-l byfpressure appliedto therl plate; 85.-@at zthe desired:y points; Threef, projectionssarez preferably'- provided` and' they 'sarei vequiclistantly spaedfircumierentiallyfof ,thegaxis-z of the plate;

Howeverusas isfhereinaftercexplained,.each procjectonfris .fa-i different!k distance .fromz ,theziaxis :or

theplate;e

Asa-shownl inf 'Figureigithe ,f-:clickmplate f. IfS'Il: isxcir.-

cularsinv outline', its :diameter tbeingzlslightly, less; i; thanttheiinner diameter of t'lrezlangefllbnistops c plate; 89a.'

y-As shownl in: *Figurey -r.6;,.f-a. relatively i flatY coil spring-3It@zisrpositionediorrithe stem libibetweenz.

spring :forces thefclicle-plate c I 3'u'xoutwardly along; thefstem` and toward thez'zendP-Wall 811) oflcasthe end Wall BIb. In other words, the lengtlof."

each-of these,tonguesuisijust'iequal to the combined ithicknessslof .compressedspring ISIS; clickplate `vtml-and. the projectionspon the clickplatei Hence;` the valveaof-,Figuresf t'oiis notlockedlin y TheestQpplate-:sa used in the Figures Gite-18 constructionris atheesameestop. plate i asf was 1 providedin ithezform ofjigures l f and 2: and' the-form of Figures andinexcept that it lacksLthe reduced end portions; 'providedonf.. the. tongues Y of' 1 the earlier. -gure'sy and-has` a: circumferentially shorter.sangez-"I|1212;y A'sbest shown=in Figure 8, 1iangte .ll}2l1` terminates atilill'fla to2 extend through about;?.

with@warentest-safaris 'rsfirespeetivey *provided i on eachzslde,fofzzzthevstruckhinband I'U2a. These I slots,extendcircumferentially of -thercasingfa'nd are selectively usable l'tosupport -an adjustable' stop z element If38fo`f larcuateiformt adapted to be posltioned onthe innersurfa'ce ofthe .cas'ngLZb'l 'Stopfelement |138 includes a shank' I3! which' exv ltends'outwardly* through the casing-:slot and thas i :itsouterendithreadedto receive suitable washers y and a nut |40. When used to control a clockwise moving valve disc, the stop will be positioned in the slot |36, when used to control a counterclockwise moving valve disc, it will be positioned in the slot |31. The exact point at which the stop |38 will be positioned in either slot is adjustable to the lowest maintainable flow f gas, as herein-v after described.

With a counterclockwise valve, ange |0212 would be positioned as mentioned above in connection with nange. |02.of the forms of Figures 1 to 5.

Operation of high-low non-locking valve of Figures 6 to 8 Figures 6 vand 7 show the relationship of the tongues |0511, |051) and |050 Vto the casing 28h when the valve member 24 of Figures 6 to 8 is in closed position. As has been stated above, at this time, `the outer ends of these tongues respectively lie behind and clear of the apertures |2011, |201) and |20c in the end wall 8| of the casing 28h.

This position is shownin transverse section in Figure 6 and it will be noted from this figure that the spring spider 92 and coil spring 03 act to hold the entire operating assembly 2lb away from the rear surface of valve member 24. Spring |34 is not strong enough to resist this action. As shown in Figure 8, in this off or non-flow position, the shoulder |03 on the flange |021) of stop plate 89a is in contact with the struck-in strap or shoulder |02a.of casing 28h. As is also indicated in Figure 6, the click projections |3211, |3217 and |32c will simultaneously bear upon the inner surface of the outer wall 8| of casing 28h, thereby holding the stop plate inwardly so that its tongues cannot enter the casing apertures.

The Yposition of the valve member 24 with respect to the supply port 48 and delivery port 50 of the Valve body 20 in closed position is illustrated in Figure 18 and it will be observed from this figure that the .blank or non-grooved portion 15 of the valve member 24 overlies the supply port 48. Y

In order to obtain a flow of gas, the stem 2Gb is rotated clockwise or in the direction of the arrow A of Figures 7 and 8. Bearing lin mind that Figures 15 to 18 view the valve member seat face 25, this rotation of the stem will cause the valve disc 24 to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in Figures 15 to 18, viz., in the direction of the arrow B of the latter Figures.

When the position of the valve member 24 withr respect to the supply and delivery ports shown in Figure 15 is reached, there will be a partial flow of gas because the end wall 64 of groove 60 will overlap the supplyv port 48. Assuming that the valve is used with a back-flash pilot light, it will be desirable to continue rotation in a clockwise direction until valve member 24 reaches the position indicated in Figure `16, that is, full flow position. In such position, the supply port 48 will be fully uncovered by the leading end of groove 60, i. e., the end dened by wall 64. At the same time, the rotation of the stem 2Gb will have carried the click projections |3211, |321) and |320 to such point that theywill be in alignment, respectively, with the apertures |20a, |201) and |200 in the wall 8| of casing 28h. Spring |34 will then force the click plate |30 outwardly so that the click projections will engage these apertures as shown in Figure 5, thereby partially preventing further rotation of the stern. It will be observed that this outward movement of the plate |30 will occur by the action of spring |34 and entirely independently of the other springs 92 and 93.

The fact that the click plate |30 is free to have some circumferential movement independently of the stem 26h enables plate |30 to rotate clockwise independently of the stem as soon as the click projections come adjacent the openings |2011, |2011 and |200. In prior structures, the click plate has been xed to move circumferentially with the operating stem so that the click plate could not spring outwardly until the stem had been turned to the proper position to permit such outward movement. By the arrangement of the present invention, when the apices of the click plate projections reach the edge of an aperture, their rearward surfaces will slide over that edge even if rotation of the stem is stopped. The momentum of the plate and the pressure of the spring |34 also cause such movement, the momentum being increased by the radial spacing of the click projections from stem 2Gb. In any event, the click plate |30 will spring forwardly and outwardly so that a sharply audible click results.

When the click projections are engaged within the apertures |2011, |20b and |200, they serve to hold the stem and valve member in a corresponding position. However, the circumferential and axial loose connection of click disc |30 upon stem 26D enables the stem to be turned with minimum effort. More particularly, when the stem is turned in either direction to move the click projections from engaged position with the apertures, contact of the leading sloping surfaces of the projections with the adjacent edge of the apertures causes plate |30 to move inwardly and also trail stop plate or disc 89a. The combination of these two movements, instead of only an inward movement, results in a very smooth release of the projections from the apertures.

When the Valve operating arrangement of Figures 6 to 8 is used with a burner connected with a hash-back pilot light ignition system, the audible click will advise the operator that a full ow of gas is moving to the burner so that the pilot should now ignite the burner. If a lower llame is desired at the burner, the valve member 24 may be rotated further in the direction of arrow B as hereinafter described.

Referring to Figure 16, which shows the position of the valve member groove 60 with respect to the supply port 48 and the delivery port 50 when the valve is in fully opened position, it will be observed that in this position the end walls 63 and 64 and inner peripheral wall 82 are so related that movement of gas from supply port 48 to delivery port 50 is in the straightest line possible commensurate with the desirable bracing-rib effect provided by the inclined inner wall 62. That is, gas may flow between the inclined inner peripheral wall 62 and the seat face 2| of the -valve body 20 instead of all of the ow having to pass around the fully arcuate portion of the groove as would be the case if the wall 62 were normal to the seat face 2| along a line corresponding to the line l0 of Figure 18. Nevertheless, the inclined wall 62 also serves to reinforce the valve so that groove 60 may be of maximum depth without weakening. 4'the valve.v member. Comparing. this advantageous Viiovvy path v4withrthe fact illustrated in-Figure 18that, in closed position, the forma.

tion-.ot Wall 62 provides an adequate sealing spaceor lap indicatedbytheline A, it `will be appreciated that the form of groove provided by thepresentiinvention is highly desirable both withregard to sealing effect-in closed position and iiowrof gasin anyflou/#positionY but with-t out l structurallyweakening `the valve 'niernberr` As hasbeen stated above, if a lowervflow of gasto the burner is desired, rotation of the valve member 24m the direction of' arrowrB ofliigures 16` and .17 is-continued. Thelimit positiony of Y this movement as transmitted to the valve member '24 isl illustrated in Figure 1'7" wherein Jthe trailing endV 63 ofthe groove 60 overlies the tapered extension or1tail :port 50h of `thedelivery port 50. `Extensioniiby is V- shaped in radial section, buty -its size circumferentially of'thevalve member is graduallyl reduced. Asrisbest shown in Figure 18, one edge of vtl-ielextension is tangential `with respect =to thel port and its other side `edge is at an acute angle` to its outer-edge. Hence, the rextension-is. generally V--shaped in a planezparallel to .the seatiface 2|.

Itwill be noted from Figure?? that end wall 63 oi'groove Si) .is straight Where it crosses tail port bl-andthat the portions of wall 53 at either side fofthetail port are also straight. VHence, if an. operator Wobbleslthe valve stem and manages to cause the valve disc 25 to move slightlyradially `When thevalve member 2.4 reaches thelimit iiow position shown in Figure 17, .the shoulder |04a at the jleading end of flange |02b of stop plate 89a will contactV with therstopY lshown'in Figure 8.V Stophll isadjustably secured in slot |36 -at'the proper position Vat which a minimum iiow `of gas may occur to the burner .without danger of the ii-ame dying outfor lack of gas.

After theV operator has turned the valve disc` inV a clockwise direction .from .the4 off ,position of Figure 18 to thefulliiow. position of Figure 17, he-may wish to obtainareduced flow. by rotation inta reverse direction, i..e., counterclockwise. .In

such event, the valve'member 24 rcould be posi tioned as illustrated in Figure 15, i. e., withthe normally leading end 640i. the groove B over-- lapping the supply port 48. Because of the fact that the end wall 64 is straight, suchflow. canV be obtained during a maximum rearwardzmovement of'-v the valve member.

Thehz'gh-Zow'loclcz'ng valve of Figures-9 to-12 The valve shown in Figures 9"to 11 and the operating mechanism 2'ic of Figure 12 is identical withthe valve of Figures 6 to 8 exceptffor slight differencesv which enable the valve now Vto be described to lock in non-flow position.

`These differences involvel having the tongues |a|05b and |85c of sufiicient length that when the valve `is in the closed `position illustrated inv Figure 9, the tongues will project into'the apertures vinthe endwalllb of casing 28h. The

Gfto 81 Thei stem.f.2`6`c ofliguresQfto has.y a longer'zintermediate; reducedportion#84cfsofthat. the Aclick :plate |30-1will',havewas'wider 'rangefof" movement;v

In order to releasei-the-valveifrom :the :locked position shownf in Eigureil,- the stem 26e ispressed inwardlyagainst theiaction-f of;v the:-springspiderA 92 and the coil spring .83, they spring i134 then y urgingv thevclick plate v-|3ll="tovvardfthe end-.Wall ofthe-casing 28h-as shown, in "Figure 110. Thel valve maya-'then 'befrotate'dto full .on position whereupon the click plate |30 will be-r urgedifor wardlly' by vspring |34v as fshown' in ,Figurell, to moveiinto the apertures i |-2 0a; |20 and.. |2 0c as: hereinbefore- :described 'in connection `withsthe valve of Figures 6 to 8.

lThe` manner of controlling41 the: gas "iiow fwith the valve *ofvv Figures 9= to L1:21 isY identicalwithf .that

|0517V or'. Ec as indicated in- -Figuref 8, it'willl be obvious that a 1259 rotation willY carry eachv lock projection pasten aperture |2060, |2|Jb-V or |2.0c= in the casing128'c. Howeverfas hassbeen :explained above, any` particular" click proj ection: and the lock" projectionv y immediately',` in. advance.'Y thereof can only engage one aperture. `Forf'example:as

shown in Figure 8, the' click'projectionv |32'f and lock projection 1050i arefspace'd thefsamef radial distance from the axis of lthe-stem 26e asf-the casingwall aperture |20a. sothati they will onlyengage-in that aperture, andiwhen these projections come opposite other-apertures they'will be out ofA radial `alignment therewith.

Valve handle,,secwiing` arrangement of Figures 1 and 7 Asis best. shown in Figures ,1 and 7, the stem of each of-the valvesdesoribed has its outer end |40 of ltlieisame diameter as the centralportion 83. However, portionil' is 4cut away at two sides to form parallel 'iiat surfaces |4| and |42 and aroundpocket |43 is drilled in theend |44 co-axialwith the axis ofitheA stem... A handle securing vmeans generally designated by# the numeral A|45 is placedin the pocket |43, member |45 being formed of springvsteel stock; 'One leg |46"of vmember |45 is'straight and has a return bend therein so that the corners ofthe extreme end |41, which is cut square, will grip orbite'into opposed points of the circular pocketl |44. The tendency of theV return bend to spread' will assist this grippingaction. Hence, member |,45'Will be securely held against removal. Member |'45"in. cludesa'portion |48 which extends at rightan'gles to the leg |46 anda portion V|49 `extends from portion |48 in thesame direction as'leg |46 as showninn dotted lines' inl Figure 1.

The upper dashed showing -of 4'Figure 1"'is ithe bowed portion |149L normally `extends outwardlyA beyond the-periphery of the portion 83 ofstem 26. Ahandl'e'29 to vbe iittedonstemlZG" will havefa socket-therein includinga'flatportion to-iit the iiatsurf'ace |142 on thestem, theremainder of- -GaSIlg -2 3b iS identical With the' casing: 0f*Feu1S"75 i the'A socketrwall ibeing circularfon'fafradius equal to that of stem' portion 83. When the flat portion of the handle socket engages the flat surface M2 on the stem 2G, the handle will be keyed to the stem and also Will be held in tight engagement therewith by the resiliency of the curved portion |49 of element |45, that curved portion then being bent substantially to the slightly flattened shape shown in solid lines in Figure 1.

The element |45 is sufiiciently stii that it will Y exert enough pressure radially of the stem to lock the handle in position against movement axially of the stem. Because the arched portion |49 of element |45 is bearing against the portion of the handle socket which is of the greatest dimension, rotation of the handle upon the stern Will be resisted.

The provision of the two fiat surfaces |4| and |42 on stem 26 enables member |45 to be mounted to face either upwardly or downwardly.

Referring again to the peripheral recess 2|a shown in Figure 1, this may be a bevel as indicated at 2lb in Figure 4. In the assembly of a casing 28 with a body 20, one of the screws 56a or 56D of Figure 3, usually of the self-threading type, is first threaded into the aperture of the corresponding ear 56 or 5l. During this application, casing 28 may swing on the screw as a pivot; If a burr left in final grinding or iinishing of seat face 2| could project past the periphery 2|c of seat face 2|, this movement of the casing would bend the burr up over the seat face. By providing the recess 21a or bevel 2 I b, any burr left after nishing will be so positioned that periphery 2| c will prevent the burr from being struck by the casing.

It will be notedv from the dimensions hereinbefore set forth that the present valves have overall dimensions comparable to those of the usual gas range plug type valve but, nevertheless, give a volume of gas ilow corresponding to that of the usual plug valve.

The terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, the scope of the invention being indicated in the claims.

I claim:

1; In an operating mechanism for a gas range valve, an apertured casing member, a stem mounted for rotary movement with respect to the casing member, a disc fixed to said stem, a second disc rotatable on said stem, means'to limit the rotation of said second disc with respect to said stem, resilient means to urge said second disc axially of said stem toward the apertures of said casing member, means on said rst disc adapted to engage an abutment on the casing member and thereby limit rotation of said stem, and means on said second disc to engage the apertures in the casing member.

2. In an operating mechanism for a gas range valve, an apertured casing member, a stem mounted for rotary movement with respect to the casing member, a disc xed to said stem, a second disc rotatable on said stem, means to limit the rotation of said second disc with respect to said stem, resilient means to urge said second disc axially of said stem toward the apertures of said casing member, means on said first disc adapted to engage an abutment on the casing member and thereby limit rotation of said stem, and means on each of said discs to engage the apertures in the casing member, the last-named means on one disc being offset with respect to the aperture-engaging means of the other disc.

3. In combination, a valve body, a valve member rotatable with respect to said body, an apertured casing member fixed to the valve body, a stem mounted for rotary movement with respect to the casing member, a disc iixed to said stem, a second disc rotatable on said stem, means to limit the rotation of said second disc with respect to said stem, resilient means to urge said second disc axially of said stem toward the apertures of said casing member, means on said rst disc adapted to engage an abutment on the casing member and thereby limit rotation of said stem, means on said second disc to engage the aperture in the casing member, and means carried by said stem to detachably engage the valve.

4. A mechanism of the character defined in claim 3 wherein the valve member is of disc form and said stem-carried means engages the valve adjacent its periphery.

5. In a valve structure, a valve body, a valve member rotatable with respect to said valve body, a casing xed to said valve body and including an apertured end. wall, a stem rotatable in said casing, a disc secured to said stem, cooperating means on said casing and disc to limit the rotation of said stem, a second disc rotatable on said stem, means on said second disc to engage the aperture in said end wall, means to urge said second disc axially of said stem and toward the end wall of said casing, cooperating means on said two discs whereby rotation of said second disc with respect to said stem will be limited, and means carried by said stem to engage said valve member.

6. In a valve structure, a valve body, a Valve member rotatable with respect to said body, a casing iixed to said valve body and including an apertured end wall, a stem rotatable in said end wall, operating means between the stem and said valve member, including engageable projections. a disc iixed to said stem, cooperating means on said disc and casing adapted to limit rotation of said stem with respect to said casing, a second disc limitedly rotatable with respect to and mounted on said stem between said irst disc and said end wall, means carried by said iirst disc to engage the aperture in the casing end wall, a resilient means positioned between said rst disc and said valve member to urge said disc aperture engaging means toward said casu ing end wall, means on said second disc to engage the end wall aperture, and means between said discs to urge said last-named means into engagement with the wall aperture.

7. In a valve structure, a valve body, a valve member rotatable with respect to said valve body, a casing fixed to said valve body and including an apertured end wall, a stem rotatable in said wall of the casing, operating means between the stem and said valve member, including engageable projections, a disc fixed to said stem between said end wall and said valve member and including a tongue projecting toward said wall and adapted to engage the wall aperture, resilient means between said disc and said valve member to urge said disc toward said casing end wall, a second disc carried by said stem and movable with respect to said rst disc, said second named disc including means to engage the aperture and having an aperture therein surrounding the tongue of said rst disc, and means to urge said second disc toward said end wall.

8. A valve structure of the character dened in claim '7 wherein the end wall of the casing is provided with a plurality of apertures circumferentially spaced with respect to said stem and with 17 each aperture at a different radial distance from the stem axis, said rst disc is provided with a plurality of tongues spaced corresponding distances from the stem axis, and said second disc is provided with a plurality of aperture engaging means spaced corresponding distances from the stem axis.

WILLIAM ROBINSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rymer June 28, 1892 Number Number 

